Trades and professions

The trades and professions often appear in symbolism. The symbols may vary from an individual clothed in a particular way, or posed according to the reference intended, or at work with or without characteristic tools, equipment or paraphernalia.

While the symbols employed may be self-referring they may also point to a trade or profession or actions and activities pertaining to them in a metaphorical sense. The indication of a midwife might connote metaphorical birth; that of an undertaker, metaphorical death. A medical doctor may refer to curative or remedial action, and a teacher to the imparting of information. A butcher's work might refer to actions of allotment, and a baker's to those of confection or collection. A judge or lawyer might refer to a test or trial, and so on.